Tag Archives: sunni and shia sectarianism

Syria and the mirror of Iraq: 55 people massacred in Iraq by Sunni Muslims

MuradMakhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The international media on the whole is clearly taking sides in Syria and issues related to fanatical Sunni Islamists who desire to turn multi-cultural and multi-religious Syria into a “Taliban style” nation state is being brushed under the carpet. The last bastion of secularism in the Arabic speaking world is under threat from a combination of forces. This includes Sunni Islamic terrorists, Western covert intervention and training, outside meddling from Sunni dominated nations who sense a power vacuum in the favor of their co-religionists, and Turkey is clearly playing a clandestine role. Therefore, the usual “good” versus “evil” is being branded around with impunity.

Hillary Clinton like usual is at her propaganda best because she commented that “The obstruction of a few countries cannot be allowed to stop the world community from coming to the aid of the Syrian people.”This comment is clear evidence that international reporters are hand-picked because her eyes are closed to more fresh attacks against the Shia population in Iraq. Of course, the United States under President Obama did a “cut and run” from Iraq after the initial war was started by the past Republican led government.

Saddam Hussein was clearly despotic and massacres took place against the Kurds and Shia who were against his rule. However, since the America led invasion all the smaller minorities and the situation of women have collapsed dramatically throughout most areas of Iraq.

In an earlier article by one of the co-writers of this article it was stated that “The American led invasion of Iraq was meant to usher in democracy, liberty, freedom, and a revitalized Iraq. Sadly, from the outset other forces would be unleashed and this applies to radical Islam, terrorism, Sunni-Shia clashes, the persecution of Christians, and other negative forces. At the same time, an ancient religion was about to face a new wave of hatred and ethnic cleansing. This community, the Mandaeans, now faces virtual annihilation and now only a few thousand remain in modern day Iraq. So will this small community be forced to go into complete exile?”

“It is clearly apparent that all minorities, be they Assyrian Christians, Mandaeans, Shabaks, Yazidis, or others, face enormous persecution because the central government is too weak and complacent. Also, the leaders of America must be blamed for entering Iraq and then leaving the minorities to face persecution, torture, death, and ethnic cleansing.”

“If we return back to the Mandaean community, then clearly their suffering is great and this community is in complete shock and bewilderment. The promise of a new Iraq means little because the “real reality” is abundantly clear and this applies to systematic persecution at the hands of radical Sunni Muslims and by mainstream society at large.”

Therefore, the comment made by Hillary Clinton that“The obstruction of a few countries cannot be allowed to stop the world community from coming to the aid of the Syrian people” rings hollow because of several factors. Firstly, America sat back and did little to prevent the vast majority of Christians fleeing Iraq and the same applies to other minorities including the Mandaeans. Secondly, the invasion of Iraq led to a bloody civil and irrespective if the invasion was “right” or “wrong” – it was apparent that the death count was gradually being reduced in 2011. However, like the BBC comments “Attacks in Iraq have risen since US troops withdrew in December (2011)” when compared to figures throughout this year.

This means that a brutal sectarian conflict was unleashed by the power vacuum which America did not intend to do. However, once the power vacuum became a reality after the demise of Saddam Hussein then Sunni Islamic jihadists from neighboring nations like Saudi Arabia entered the equation alongside global terrorist networks. Since this time vast numbers of innocents have been slaughtered by the mainly Sunni Muslim insurgency. Therefore, terrorism and the fleeing of minorities like the Christians and Mandaeans is a reality which makes the words of Hillary Clinton seem not only shallow but out of step with reality.

After all, the nightmare power vacuum was gradually coming under control because the death ratio was reduced in the last few years. However, this moment of “hope” that the forces of sectarianism and terrorism had burnt itself out was thrown away by President Obama pulling forces out. This means that the religious cleansing of Christians, Mandaeans and others, alongside the deaths of thousands of American troops and untold numbers of civilians, was all in vain because now a new vacuum was opened and this can be seen by fresh massacres aimed against the Shia in Iraq.

Therefore, a war that many believed was wrong led to many internal convulsions and when it appeared that things were finally coming under control then America left. This means that outside meddling turned against a former ally and irrespective of good intentions or not, the conclusion is that over 100,000 people were killed and religious minorities have fled on mass.

The conflict in Syria is a conflict between civilizations and irrespective of all the emotions being branded about it is apparent that elements within the opposition desire to crush the Alawites and other minorities. Also, the liberalism of major cities like Damascus will become but a distant memory and the rights of women, just like in Iraq, will be reduced greatly. This can be seen by the growing number of honor killings and so forth in modern day Iraq compared with the old regime.

Another reason why Hillary Clinton is in “propaganda mode” is because clearly she desires to bash China and the Russian Federation in order to obtain political capital for America. However, when did America concern itself with the reactions of others in the international community? Therefore, neither China nor the Russian Federation is holding the United States or other nations back in the “umbrella of intrigues.”

After all, the Russian Federation was against military intervention in Libya and Kosovo but this meant nothing in Washington, London, and Paris. Did the United States care when Vietnam was invaded or covert wars were being played throughout Latin America and Central America? Of course the United States did not concern itself with the views of other major powers just like in Iraq – therefore, the reasons why Obama isn’t supporting an outright bombing campaign is based on other factors or he is hoping that covert support will dismantle the current government of Syria.

In another article by Modern Tokyo Times called ‘Egypt and Syira: Two Civilizational Struggles’ it was stated that “The rapidly changing Middle East is witnessing convulsions which are indeed revolutionary when it comes to alliances. After all, in Libya you had NATO, Sunni Islamists and a mixture of other forces fighting on the same side against Colonel Gaddafi. Likewise in Syria which is the last remaining major bastion of secularism in the Arabic speaking world, radical Islamists and the West have joined forces. Therefore the opposition in both cases obtained military equipment at the drop of the hat.”

Further down in the same article it was stated that “Alawite Muslims, Christians, the Druze, and Sunni Muslims, who lived peacefully together, now fear radical Sunni Islamic forces and a future bloodbath. Therefore, in Egypt and Syria you have a civilization battle between secularism and political Islam and another civilization battle between the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafists. Likewise in Syria moderate Sunni Muslim forces face a civilization battle against Wahabbi minded Islamists who deem the Alawites and moderate Sunni Muslims to be infidels.”

“If Assad is overthrown by the opposition then the Alawites, Christians, women, liberals, and so forth, will fear that the “loss of all sanity is over” because whatever Assad may or may not be; he tolerated religious pluralism and the rights of women and so forth. The Levant isn’t Afghanistan and the richness of culture and diversity within Islam enabled Christian minorities and other like the Druze to survive.”

“Sectarianism nearly destroyed Lebanon in the past and Syria faces a bloody sectarian struggle if the demise of Assad occurs and it isn’t managed by all sections of Syria. However, forces within the opposition don’t desire a multi-religious Syria instead a new Talibanization awaits and religious bloodletting seems most likely within different Muslim communities.”

“Meanwhile, the Christians of Syria can always move to Lebanon or maybe like the majority of Iraqi Christians they will give up the ghost. If this happens, then the richness of the Levant and the diversity of Islam in this region may perish.”

In Syria just like in all civil wars both sides will be responsible for massacres and propaganda and the media war is part and parcel of the modern world. Nobody can predict completely what will happen in Syria at the moment but if the regime collapses and central forces are taken over by alienating the dominant political party – then, given the sectarian angle of Syria, it could well be that “the mirror of Iraq” awaits this country.

If so, the blood-letting will increase and some minorities will flee and alongside this the rights of women will be in free-fall. At the moment the only “democratic and liberal forces” in Syria belongs to politicians outside of Syria because on the ground it is very different.

Yesterday, many attacks in Iraq aimed against the Shia led to at least 55 people being killed and given the delicate sectarian and political nature of Syria then the worse is feared. The situation in Syria is complex and “honest brokers” need to be found in order to stabilize the situation internally and to prevent covert military support from instigating fresh violence.